Strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’, particularly selected for its large berry size, fruit firmness, open canopy, and long trusses, is disclosed.

LATIN NAME

Botanical classification: Fragaria x ananassa.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed variety of strawberry plant is ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cultivated strawberry is a hybrid species of the genus Fragaria that is grown worldwide for its fruit. Modern strawberry was first bred in Brittany, France, in the 18^(th) century by crossing Fragaria virginiana with Fragaria chiloensis. Strawberry fruit is an aggregate accessory fruit, with the fleshy part of the fruit being derived from the receptacle that holds the ovaries.

Strawberry varieties vary widely in color, size, shape, flavor, season of ripening, degree of fertility, and susceptibility to disease. Certain varieties vary in foliage, and some vary in the relative development of their reproductive organs. Typically, strawberry flowers appear hermaphroditic in structure, but function as either male or female. Generally, commercial production of strawberry plants involves propagation from runners and distribution as either plugs or bare root plants. Cultivation is either perennial or annual plasticulture. During the off season, strawberries can also be produced in greenhouses.

Strawberry fruit is widely appreciated for its characteristic bright red color, aroma, juicy texture, and sweetness. Strawberry fruit is a popular fruit that is generally consumed either fresh or in prepared foods, such as preserves and baked goods.

Strawberry is an important and valuable fruit crop. Accordingly, there is a need for new varieties of strawberry plants. In particular, there is a need for improved varieties of strawberry plant that are stable, high yielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to an improved variety of strawberry plant. In particular, the invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant (Fragaria x ananassa), which has been denominated as ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’.

Strawberry plant variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’ originated from a controlled cross between the female parent ‘DrisStrawSixty’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,789) and the proprietary male parent ‘541AB148’ (unpatented). Progeny plants from this cross, including ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’, were asexually propagated via stolons in Shasta County, Calif. in March 2014. Strawberry plant variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’ was later specifically identified and selected in Ventura County, Calif. in October 2014.

‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’ was subsequently asexually propagated via stolons, and has undergone testing at test plots in Ventura County, Calif. for five years (2015 to 2020). The present variety has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations via stolons and tissue culture.

‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’ was particularly selected for its large berry size, fruit firmness, open canopy, and long trusses.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new strawberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Unless otherwise indicated, the photographs are of plants that are five months old.

FIG. 1 illustrates whole fruit of variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’.

FIG. 2 illustrates longitudinal sections of fruit of variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’.

FIG. 3 illustrates the upper surface (top row) and lower surface (bottom row) of flowers of variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’.

FIG. 4 illustrates the lower surface (top) and upper surface (bottom) of leaves of variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’.

FIG. 5 illustrates a whole plant of variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’. The data which define these characteristics is based on observations taken in Ventura County, Calif. from 2015 to 2020. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic, and cultural conditions. ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’ was taken from plants that were five months old. The indicated values represent averages calculated from measurements of several plants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2015 edition). Descriptive terminology follows the Plant Identification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined.

-   Classification:     -   -   Species.—Fragaria x ananassa.         -   Common name.—Strawberry.         -   Denomination.—‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘DrisStrawSixty’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.             30,789).         -   Male parent.—Proprietary strawberry plant ‘541AB148’             (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—15.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—30.6 cm.         -   Height/width ratio.—0.5.         -   Number of crowns per plant.—4.         -   Growth habit.—Spreading.         -   Density of foliage.—Medium.         -   Vigor.—Medium. -   Stolon:     -   -   Diameter at bract.—3.0 mm.         -   Overall color.—RHS N144 (Strong yellowish green).         -   Anthocyanin coloration.—Medium.         -   Anthocyanin color (when present).—RHS N34 (Moderate red).         -   Density of pubescence.—Medium. -   Fruiting truss:     -   -   Length (from crown to base of terminal flower or             fruit).—19.1 cm.         -   Diameter (at base of truss).—0.49 cm.         -   Number of berries per truss.—4.6.         -   Attitude at first picking.—Semi-erect.         -   Color (at base of truss).—RHS N144A (Strong yellowish             green). -   Leaf:     -   -   Number of leaflets.—Three only.         -   Color of leaf upper surface.—RHS NN137B (Greyish olive             green).         -   Color of leaf lower surface.—RHS 148C (Greyish yellow             green).         -   Blistering.—Medium.         -   Glossiness.—Medium.         -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: 7.3 cm. Width: 6.7 cm.             Length/width ratio: 1.09. Number of teeth per terminal             leaflet: 21.8. Overall shape: Oval. Shape of base: Obtuse.             Shape of apex: Convex. Margin: Serrate to crenate. Margin             profile: Revolute. Shape in cross section: Concave.         -   Petiole.—Length: 13.1 cm. Diameter: 3.6 mm. Overall color:             RHS N144A (Strong yellowish green). Pubescence: Medium.             Attitude of hairs: Slightly outwards. Bract frequency             (number present on each petiole): 1.         -   Petiolule.—Length: 7.5 mm. Diameter: 1.9 mm. Color: RHS             N144A (Strong yellowish green).         -   Stipule.—Length: 36.6 mm. Width: 22.8 mm. Stipule color: RHS             144D (Light yellow green). Anthocyanin coloration: Medium.             Anthocyanin color: RHS 39A (Strong red). Pubescence: Medium. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers per plant.—6.         -   Position of inflorescence in relation to foliage.—Above             foliage.         -   Pedicel.—Attitude of hairs: Upwards.         -   Flower.—Flower diameter (petal tip to petal tip on             non-flattened flower): 23.9 mm. Arrangement of petals:             Overlapping. Size of calyx in relation to corolla: Same             size. Stamen: Present. Receptacle color: RHS 9A (Vivid             yellow). Anther color: RHS N167A (Brownish orange).         -   Petal.—Length: 13.9 mm. Width: 13.1 mm. Length/width ratio:             1.06. Number of petals per flower: 6. Color of upper             surface: RHS 155C (Greenish white). Color of lower surface:             RHS 155C (Greenish white). Overall shape: Orbicular. Shape             of apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Shape of base:             Concavo-convex.         -   Calyx.—Diameter (sepal tip to sepal tip, measured on back of             flower): 31.6 mm.         -   Sepal.—Length: 11.8 mm. Width: 3.9 mm. Number of sepals per             flower: 11.6. Overall shape: Elliptical. Apex shape:             Acuminate. Margin: Entire.         -   Flowering.—Flowering interval: July to December. -   Fruit:     -   -   Fruit size.—Length: 51 mm. Width: 48 mm. Length/width ratio:             1.06.         -   Fruit hollow.—Length: 15 mm. Width: 4.5 mm. Length/width             ratio: 3.3.         -   Shape.—Conical.         -   Difference in shape of terminal and other fruits.—None or             very slight.         -   Fruit color.—RHS 42A (Vivid reddish orange).         -   Evenness of color.—Even or very slightly uneven.         -   Glossiness.—Medium.         -   Evenness of surface.—Even or very slightly uneven.         -   Width of band without achenes.—Narrow.         -   Position of achenes.—Below surface.         -   Position of calyx attachment.—Raised.         -   Attitude of sepals.—Upwards.         -   Diameter of calyx in relation to diameter of fruit.—Same             size.         -   Adherence of calyx.—Strong.         -   Firmness.—Very firm.         -   Color of flesh (excluding core).—RHS 33B (Vivid reddish             orange).         -   Evenness of flesh color.—Slightly uneven.         -   Distribution of flesh color.—Only marginal.         -   Color of core.—RHS 31D (Moderate yellowish pink).         -   Sweetness/soluble solids (in ° brix).—8.2.         -   Titratable acidity (% as citric acid).—0.56%.         -   Individual fruit weight.—30.9 g/fruit.         -   Achenes.—Number of achenes per fruit: 182. Weight: 0.0011             g/achene. Color of upper (sunward) side: RHS 46A (Strong             red). Color of lower (shaded) side: RHS 143B (Strong yellow             green).         -   Fruiting.—Harvest interval: October to December. Type of             bearing: Fully remontant. Productivity: 14,747 kg to 29,813             kg of fruit per hectare per season from five- month-old             plants when grown in Ventura County, Calif. -   Resistance to abiotic stress, pests, and diseases:     -   -   Two-spotted spider mite (tetranychus urticae).—Moderately             susceptible.         -   Botrytis fruit rot (botrytis cinerea).—Moderately             susceptible.         -   Powdery mildew (podosphaera macularis).—Moderately             resistant.         -   Anthracnose crown rot (colletotrichum acutatum).—Moderately             susceptible.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND REFERENCE VARIETIES

‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’ differs from the female parent and reference variety ‘DrisStrawSixty’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,789) in that ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’ has very firm fruit, orange red color of flesh (excluding core), and terminal leaflets with a concave shape in cross section, whereas ‘DrisStrawSixty’ has medium fruit firmness, whitish color of flesh (excluding the core), and terminal leaflets with a convex shape in cross section. In addition, ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’ has medium fruit glossiness and a flower calyx the same size in relation to the corolla, whereas ‘DrisStrawSixty’ has strong fruit glossiness and a flower calyx larger in relation to the corolla.

‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’ differs from the male parent proprietary strawberry plant ‘541AB148’ (unpatented) in that ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’ has a higher yield potential, larger fruit size, and less sensitivity to mites and cold temperatures than ‘541AB148’.

‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’ differs from the reference variety ‘DrisStrawTwentyOne’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,506) in that ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’ has a spreading growth habit, medium number of stolons, medium stolon anthocyanin coloration, and very firm fruit, whereas ‘DrisStrawTwentyOne’ has an upright growth habit, few stolons, strong stolon anthocyanin coloration, and medium fruit firmness. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawNinetyFive’ as shown and described herein. 